Nick Kyrgios, the outspoken Australian tennis star, doesn’t seem to have gotten over his Italian counterpart, Jannik Sinner, as he consistently throws jabs at the latter’s recent misfortunes. Sinner’s positive drug test in March has put him in the crosshairs of Kyrgios, who has been unreservedly vocal about what he perceives as an “unjust treatment” of the situation.
The recent exclusion of Sinner from the Laureus Awards has served as fuel for Kyrgios’ constant critique. Sinner was stripped of his nomination for Sportsman of the Year following his acceptance of a three-month ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Laureus World Sports Academy Chairman, Sean Fitzpatrick, while acknowledging the mitigating factors in Sinner’s case, stated that the ban rendered the nomination void. This is yet another blow for Sinner, who is already grappling with a tarnished record due to the suspension.
Kyrgios, never one to shy away from voicing his opinion, seized the opportunity to chime in. In response to the announcement, he reiterated the importance of sportsmanship and playing by the rules – an evident jab at Sinner’s predicament. This stance was not unexpected, as Kyrgios had previously echoed similar sentiments when Sinner’s ban was first announced, expressing disappointment in what he considered a “sad day for tennis.”
Sinner’s troubles began after his victory in the Australian Open when he was slapped with a three-month suspension due to an inadvertent contamination with the prohibited substance, clostebol. Despite the potential for a longer ban, Sinner was able to negotiate a lesser sentence with WADA, attributing the substance’s presence to negligence on the part of his physiotherapist. This decision, which conveniently allows Sinner to return in time for the French Open, has ignited debates among fans and fellow players, who perceive the lenient punishment and favorable timing as leaving a ‘sour taste.’
In another notable incident, French tennis professional Alexandre Muller expressed frustration after being subjected to a doping test immediately following a grueling late-night match at the Rio Open. Muller’s tweet resonated with fans who empathized with his exhaustion. Kyrgios, in his characteristic style, used this opportunity to take another swing at Sinner, suggesting in jest that Muller should blame his team if any steroids were detected.
Sinner had previously argued that the banned substance had accidentally entered his body due to a spray applied by his physiotherapist, a defense that was ultimately accepted by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which found him not guilty due to “no fault or negligence.”
As Kyrgios prepares for his return at Indian Wells on March 5, the ongoing feud with Sinner continues to capture widespread attention. The question on everyone’s mind is whether this dispute will ever die down or if Kyrgios will continue to serve up more hits at the Italian star. The jury is still out on this one.